Process for the conversion of liquids, fluids, and oils



I. H. ADAMS.

PROCESS FOR THE CONVERSION 0F .L|QU|DS, FLUIDS, AND OILS. APPLlcATloN-HLED 1111111.30. 1911. RENEwED A`P11.1'1.1919.

1,327,263., Patented Jan. 6,1920.

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' INVENTOR.

JOSEPH H. ADAM-s,- OE BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, AssIGNoR- To THE TEXAs cON1 ANY,-or

HOUSTON, TExAs, A CORPORATION OE TEXAS.

PROCESS FOR THE CONVERSION OF LIQUIDS, FLUIDS, AND OILS.

- specification of Letters patent.

Application iled March 30, 1911, Serial No. 618,011. Renewed April 11,-1919. l Serial No. 289,425.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOSEPH H. ADAMS,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Process for the Conversion of Liquids, Fluids, and Oils, and of Whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates broadly to the art of essentially converting fluids, such asl oils, into products of a dissimilar character, in contradistinction Afrom fractional distillation processes, but in ,its more intense aspect it consists in a thermal method of converting more or less refined mineral hydro-carbon Oils, such as those of the benzin, kerosene, gas and fuel oil seriesinto the more volatile products resembling light oils, benzins and the naphthas, which are characterized by a llower specific gravity and greater commercial value.

- It is also within the scope of this invention to treat the various crude petroleums having asphalt and tar bases in such a manner that the oils driven off in vapors when j collected and condensed will have a lower value than those obtained by the fractional specific gravity and greater volume than the products obtained from similar crude oil by any of the known methods of fractional distillation, while at the same time the'residues will have greater commercial v distillation methods.

One object of this invention is to formulate a process of a commercially practical vnature .for carrying out the above stated converslon or transformation (as g clearly distlngulshed from a mere distillation) by means of externally applying a high degree lof heat to a chamber composed of a heat enduring materlal maintalmng a pressure 1n said chamber, while 'containing hydro-carbon oils, and heating the walls of said chamber to an incandescent temperature` of Suiicientl intensity to locally crack and convert the said oils into oils or oily spirits essentially different in nature from` untreated oils, the pressure being maintained while the cracked vapors are being condensed as herein-after explained. .By the term vapor I mean the gaseous form of a substance which is normally liquid at Iordinary atmospheric temperature. l"

As conducing t0 a better understanding of the ultimate basis of this invention, it may here be recalled that crude petroleum, by a process of fractional distillation, may be separated into a multitude'of component parts comprisingl spirits, oils, heavy bottoms and residues differing from one another in insensible gradations.

Commercially, the distillation of crude oil is not carried to extreme limits of re-v linement, l the aim being to produce the maximum yield of the three principal lprocluct's for vwhich there is the greatest de-v mand. 1

Of these, kerosene 3 to 4:79 Baume gravity constitutes about 60% of the crude petroleum (Pennsylvania), naphtha of about 62 gravity Baum4% of the crude Patented Jams, 1920.

petroleum; automobile naphtha, stove naphtha and others called gasolene rangproducts are sometimes given modified names, particularly with regard to .the gasolene series whichat the present time is extensively sold under Baume 'gravities considerably less than was the custom a few years ago. l

The fact remains, however, that these products, no matter how they may be named or classed, are notusually single distinctive oils, Ibut as ordinarily found in commerce are in reality unseparated mixtures of higher and lower gravity oils having their component parts so proportioned that their vaverage gravity' conforms to the BaumeJ gravities by which the yvarious byproducts of the crude petroleumv are known commercially as lubricating, fuel, gas and kerosene oils, benzins, naphthas and gasolenes.

Thus,an analysis by fractional distillation w1ll show each of these commercial products to consist of a multitude of fractions ranging through a wide scale of gravitiesfrom the semi-solids below 25 gravity Baume to the most volatile spirits in the neighborhood Of 8,50 gravity Baume and slightly higher, although those which form the greater proportion of any one product will possess gravities within a range from .lower specific gravity oil or petroleum spirit el. g

mixture such as benzin, naphtha or so called gasolene.

This I accomplish by subjecting the oil or mixture of oils to the powerful influence of pressure and a properly applied external de-l composing temperature varying in intensity according to the character of the particular oil undergoing treatment.

In one part of the process of refining oils by fractional distillation, more particularly those of the lower Baume gravity type, and commonly known as tar, the oil is heated in the tar still to a temperature of approximately 1000 F. to more or less perfectly break up the heavier molecules.

This, however, is a distinct operation from my process where I employ an intense temperature and pressure in breaking up the high boiling point hydrocarbons into those of lower boiling points to increase the yield of gasolenes and naphthas, the pressure being maintained during condensation ofthe lower boiling point hydrocarbons as hereinafter explained.

. The nature of the process is such that its full disclosure may be greatly facilitated by describing certain characteristic features of.

an apparatus adapted to carry out the same,

,in conjunction with the statements detailing the manner in which the oil will course through and undergo vessential change in quality in thevarious parts of the apparatus. In the drawings, like character of reference denote corresponding parts through the several views of which: Figure 1 is an assembly in elevation of the apparatus as designed for commercially carrying out my process.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation showing one of the many possible forms of converter which may be employed for externally subjectmg oil to a cracking or decomposing tem- A perature lby the application of an intense heat to the exterior walls of an oil containchamber composed of heat enduring materlal.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken throi'lgh line z-z'of Fig. 2.

Referring now to Fig. 1, A represents a suitable supply apparatus which serves as a source of the oil which is to be converted.

As will be understood, this oil supply apparatus may assume diverse forms, but that shown in the drawing will be found quite suitable for ordinary usage.

In this embodiment, the containing vessel 1 of the supply apparatus A may be somewhat elevated with respect to the adjacent converter B so that the gravitating tendency of the oil may augment its flow into the converter B under the influence of the more or less weight of oil in the tank and pressure which may be maintained over it, notwithstanding the compression which may be maintained over the surface of the oil in the converter.

The fluid oil may be admitted into the containing vessel or tank 1 by means of one or more suitable supply pipes indicated by 2, while at the same time the displaced air may escape through pipe 3, from the top of tank 1, or pipe 3 may be connected with a suitable air compressor so that a pressure may be maintained over the surface of oil contained in tank 1 to further augment the flow of oil from the tank to the converter B. Such. tank 1 may also be provided with suitable glass sight gages 7 and 8 if desired, and in like manner, gages 7 and 8 may be provided on, the adjacent converter B.

A pipe 9 connects the supply tank 1 with the oil heater H in any desired manner, then from t-he heater the heated oil Iis conducted through pipe 11 to converter B, as shown.

It is best to heat the oil before it is admitted to the converter B so -that the heat from the furnace of the converter may be conserved for the more important function of les cracking, splitting the molecules of and rapidly vaporizing the oil, andtherefore the oil heater H is provided in which the oil m-ay be brought to any desired temperature'within the container 5 by gas blast fromjets 6. or by other economical means of heating.

y The oil heater H is placed in the piping and 14`through either one of which oil isl admitted to the chamber 1E?, and lower part of dome 13. These sections may be connect.

ed with the gage column 41 on which the glass sight gages 8 are arranged so that the condition and :disposition of the contents razaaee of the converter may always be the more readily apparent and be susceptible of an intelligent variation by operating the hand valve 10 for regulating the flow of original oil 4through the supply pipe 9.

The vapor dome 13 mayalso be provided with a gage glass 7 for comparative observation. s

At the lower part ofthe converter B and connected to chamber 12 a` heavy bottoms and residue chamber 30 is arranged to collect the precipitated carbon and foreign substances thrown down by this converting process7 and near to the lower end a suitable drip'or outlet pipe 18 may be provided and controlled by the valve 19, shown in Fig. 1 and Fig, 2. n

The bottom of chamber 30 is closed by a plate 31v and a hand hole plate 31 by means of which the chamber may be emptied of its more solid contents and cleared of any sediment which may accumulate therein.

The closed containing vessel or vapor dome 13`is secured to the heat enduring or cracking chamber 12 by means of a suitable interposed flange member 20 which is se-` curely bolted to each of these respective sections.

Inasmuch as the vapors rising into and filling the upper part of the vapor dome 13 may, at any time, be so rapidly evolved as to exert an undue ressure, I have arranged a compression tank) 48 and pop valve 48 in relation with the upper part of the cylinder or vapor dome 13 by means of the pipe 49 so that any sudden pressure above a given number of pounds to the superficial inch will cause the spring check inthe seat of pop valve48 to rise and release the excessiv pressure.

In otherfwords, by fixing 'the upper limit of pressure in the apparatus .the evolved vapors maintain a predetermined desired pressure therein, the evolved vapors being solely relied upon in accordance with the preferred embodiment of my invention as actually used in practice, before my original application S. #535,87 9 was originally filed andon which. this application was primarily based.

Of course, the converter and fittings are made up as tight as possible and, therefore,

'I have used between the several flanges and caps, gaskets of asbestos and other oil and heat resisting and indestructible'materials, so thatv the possibility of leakage'may be ,oblviatedso. far as may be necessary from a practical standpoint.

A feature of primary importance is the means for1 externally applying vheat of-intense temperature to the oil while contained inthe heat enduring chamber 12 when under vcompression above thatl of the atmos-` phere for the purpose of bringing about a conversion rof such oil.

- pipe 66 is made up in circular form lto in'- Preferably this feature is operated by gas and air blast under pressure and comprises oneor more jets 12 through which a proper mixture of gas and air is forced and ignited to form the necessary elements of combustion.

The nozzles of these jets are projected through openings or ports into an inclosed retort 22 composed of lire brick or fused quartz linings 67 held together within a strong and suitable metallic shellv 67', as shown in Fig. 3, and provided with an ex haust pipe 66 to lead out the spent gas and fumes ofcombustion.

This inclosed retort is designed to conserve the greater part of the intense heat from the several gas jets 12 for the purpose of maintaining the walls of the heat enduring -chamber 12 at a temperature of sufiiclent variable intensity, to crack or decomposeoils of varying characteristics which may be contained within the chamber.

In the-shown form this retort 22 with its l intakel pipes 26 and 27 and outlet or exhaust close the greater part of the cylindrical heat enduring chamber 12 and, while this precise form may be varied to conform to the different shapes and designs in which retorts can be made commercially available for this purpose, the form shown in Figs. 1, 2 -and 3 will be found very suitable for converting many classes of petroleum oil. This l retort or furnace 22 and heat enduring chamber 12 areespecially adapted for the economical use of a mixture of gas and air under pressure as an intense heating fuel, and while this unit Bis but one form of converter, a number of such units in'series would possess commercial advantages.v

The gas andgair being brought in separately through pipes 26 and 27 become mixed within the ipe leading tothe jets 12;

When this comgustible mixture is ignited the heataction within theretort22 andthe color ofv the walls of the heat `enduring chamber 12^may bel observed through the sight ports 56,. located in the Walls of the retort 22, and indicated also by the pyrom# eter 59 located in'a central position on the 'retort,'where' the thermal end may extend into thebody of thegenerated heat within the inclosure.v

For the preservationl of the heat enduring chamber 12 vand the distribution of heat generated within the walls of the retort 22 the jets 12 are arranged to enter the ports in the walls of the retort at a tangent whereby a circulatingy heat may be distributed about the exterior walls of chamber 12, as indi- 1'25 cated in Fig. 3,' instead of the jets being pro.

adapted for working in` the oil and gas regions where the costlof natural gas is very ow or the gas manufactured in gas producer plants and fuel oil is inexpensive, or where cheap gas is not obtainable then the form of heater may be changed to conform to the available fuel or means of heat generation to carry on this process.

The oil containing and cracking chamber 12 may be constructed of various heat enduring metals, alloys, carbons, gaphites, graphltic carbon and other materials known to withstand a constant or varying temperature of high intensity, but as the structural character of such a part does not relate specifically to a process invention it will be unnecessary to elaborate thereon in this process disclosure. A This-intense externally applied heat affects the contained oil in such a manner -as to very efficiently convert the same and is thus. adapted to assist in a step of primary importance to my process. v

It may here be stated that, when operating upon certain classes of oils, that is, the more volatile oils and spirits, it is highly desirable to localize the application of the external heat so as to revent the spread, so to speak,

of the heat 1n a lower degree of intensit throughout the mass than is necessary tore fciently crack the oil, but of a sullicient intensity to cause an evaporation of undue amounts of the oil at a distance from the intensely heated walls of the cracking chamber without bringing about a conversion.

To this end, in the embodiment of the apparatus shown by Fig. 2, I- have provided a cylindrical core or sheath68 of a size designed to ill a larger part of the central space Within the cracking chamber 12 and to displace a considerable amount of oil which would otherwise be contained therein, thereby compelling such oil as may be lo cated between this core 68 and the containing chamber 12 to come into more or less direct contact with the intensely heated walls of the cracking chamber 12.

This core 68 is supported by the rods 23 and 23', the wholel forming a shaft which by means of a ybearing in cap 31 at the bottom of heavy bottoms chamber 30 and a packed `bearing or gland in the vapor dome cap 21,

may be caused to revolve when the gears 35 and 36 arranged above the crown of the` va or dome 13 are operated upon by power.

helical collar or worm 69 of metal or other' suitable vmaterial is attached to the periphery of the core 68 but in such a mannerv as not to directly engage the interior surfaces of the cracking chamber 12.

This core-cylinder and collar, when revolving, agitates the oil contained within the cracking chamber 12 and causes it to be thrown Into more or less close proximity to the chamber for thepurpose of cracking, molecules of and otherwise converting all or as much of the original oil as may e possible during i the accelerated movements within and passage through the chamber.

Another specific function of the helical collar 69, when in rotation, is to remove and throw down the accumulation of scales and particles of carbon and coke which may adhere to the interior surfaces of the cracking chamber 12.

From this it will be understood that whenever the fluid to be converted is admitted to the chamber 12 and containing-vessel 13 and' brought to the proper and safe level, as indicated by the dotted line X in the dome 13, and also indicated in the gages 7 and 8', it is in a position to be operated upon by the externally applied intense heat which Will 'be maintained within the retort, and in close relation to the original oil through the walls of the cracking chamber and which, when evolved as vapors, will be constantly and uniformly replaced by fresh quantities of untreated and non-converted oil. 4

In other' words, the oil contained within the channel between vthe core 68 and chamber 12 will be held in place by the head weight of oil contained in the lower part qof vapor dome 13, thus preventing the intense heat from sorapidly volatihzing the small amount of oil in this channel and driving it away from the intensely heated walls vof the chamber, before additional oil could be supplied to take its place, that burning or searing could result from the ignition of superheated oil vapors which might at times become mixed with air or other re-active agents.

The retort 22 being preferably constructed of suitable heat resisting and 4conserving material, admirably serves to localize the intense heat just where it is most needed, z'. e. in the immediate vicinity of the more or less central part of the cracking chamber12.

On the other hand, the unconverted oil contained in the lower part of vapor dome 13 does not 'become heated to such a de ree as to cause undue evaporation but al ows the lighter and more volatile oils to pass through it and escape to ithe top of the dome in the form of vapors from which they pass out through pipe 43 while the unconverted heavier oil is discharged through pipe 47 into liquid trap 42.

From the foregoing it will be seen that during the maintenance of, hightemperature within the retort, for the purpose of intensely heating the walls of the cracking chamber `while containing oil, the effect of this heat is to'cause the oil which is in the 'lor mames immediate vicinity of the internal walls of the chamber to be broken up or converted into oils having a lower specific gravity.

The action isextremely violent, causing the cracked oil to become immediately vaporized and the uprising of this vapor brings about afurious local agitation within1 the crackingl chamber andv the contained o1 in order to prevent excessive agitation and to prevent particles of oil being projected above the body of fluid in vapor dome 13 and allowing them to drop back again into the heated mass and thereby causing a 'deteriorating reaction, perforated baille plates 70 and 70l are located on the rod or shaft ,23 and made fast so that they occupy a position within the body of oil, as shown irf Fig. 2. It mayalso be mentioned that owing to the excessive quantity of heat, and owing also to the fact that much -of the heat will radiate at a diminished temperature into surrounding portions of the oil more distant from the incandescent wallsv I of the cracking chamber, considerable oil may and will be volatilized without undergoing conversion, just as illuminating oils and naphthas are boiled and vaporized without essential conversion in the ordinary process of fractional distillation. By

voperating apparatus under pressurethow ever, I amv able to reduce the undesirable" volatilization without conversion to a minil mum, and as a consequence the oils -are'm a large proportion cracked or otherwise converted in character.

chamber 12 to take the Oil will be constantly flowing toward and int-o, contact withv the walls of the-cracking place of that al ready vaporized. I y

This newly admitted oil' will in turn be cracked and changed in the apparatus.

into lighter or more' volatile products.

Thus, the complex mixture of oils, know"fi commercially las distillates of benzin. kerosene, gas and fuel oils, may be changed or transformed'by means of my process into a mixture of lighter oils and spirits which 4bear a general `resemblance `'to and have the. properties of that which ris known as illuminating oil, naphtha. and gasolene.

It may be mentioned also that during this operation, the raw nonconverted olls w11] be relieved of'niore or less of the carbon of which they are in part composed, as well as some of the foreign substances which it' is desirable -to eliminate. v

This, of course, alters their chemical char acter and converts" them from one or more of the products of the hydro-carbon series into those of lower specific gravity and possibly dierent character. rllhe carbon which is removed in this manner will be in part deposited upon the hot walls Aof the .cracking chamber and in part precipitated-in the adjacent oil, being to some extent 'held in suspension and to some Iextent gravitating through the oil toward theheavy bottoms chamber provided for its accumulation.

When operating in this manner it has been observed that apparently only a certain part of the fluid ultimately evaporated comes in direct contact with the highly heated walls of the cracking chamber, for the reason that the condition of the heat is sufficient to evaporate a certain somewhat remote portion of the oilat a lower temperature than is vre-v quired for cracking the oil.

Accordingly, the vapors passing into the dome 13 will be composed not only. of the oil which has suffered a breaking up of its molecules and deposition of-a part of its carbon bythe high converting heat, but will also contain a certain portion of the unchanged original oil in the form of vapor.

4 These mixed vapors are evolved very rap- -idly owing to the high'temperature of the rlhe lmixed ivapors pass from the dome 13 ,v

i-nto discharge pipe 43, and thence through the pipe 44 to a vapor trap 45 in whicha baille plate 65 is arranged in such a manner as tomake it necessary for the light vapors to descend nearly to the` bottom of the trap on one side of the plate an'd vrise again on thevother before they .can escape through the v 1.05

goose neck 58 to 'the condensing appara tus D. 4

Vapors not light enough to rise in pipe 44 are condensedthen conducted to a hquid trap 42 through the pipe .54, and in like manner vapors not light enough to risein the vaporltrap 45.y after descending along` the baiie plate 65, fallto the bottom of trap 45 and thecondensate is led through pipe 17 into the receiving tank 60 of apparatus C. which 'is provided with glass sight gages 7 and 8 andfronfwhich it may be withdrawn and returned to the supply tank l by means of the suction pump 61 of apparatus G and-'the pipe 64.

By meansof the pump operating mechal nism.53 the oil is conveyed through return pipe 4 and 4 in which the vcheck valve 62 l is located tol relieve the back pressure on the pump. and finally the oil is admitted through the top of tank A, as the original oil was let in through pipe 2.

The lighter miXed vapors pass from the trap 45 through the goose neck 58 and into a suitable condensing coil ofpipe 46 'irn-` mersed in a Water tank 71 forming a part of the condensing apparatus D of Fig. 1.

This apparatus D is provided with a cold water supply pipe 28 and an overflow pipe 29 whereby a continuous flow of cold water can be maintained within the tank 71` for apparatus D may be returned to tank 1 after" it is collected in receiving tank 60 of apparatus C.

In this manner the already-condensed un--l converted. oil may be passed into the cracking chamber again without first being mixed with and separated from the converted condensed oils in apparatus D by a fractional distillation method. l

After passing through the coil condenser and cooling tank apparatus D, the iiuid oil passes through pipe 50 into the apparatus E of which tank 32, provided with glass gages 7 and 8', is the container and from which it can-be withdrawn by means of cock 40, shown in Fig. 1.

For the treatment of certain oils it is necessary to maintain a -more or less complete compression of one or more atmospheres in ythe apparatus from the source ofsupply to the end of or beyond the condenser in conjunction with the other features of my invention, for thereby I am enabled to retard to a certain extent the overproduction of vapors and the volatilization of oil that must necessarily be held in check within the cracking chamber 12 until as .much of the cracking operation can be` performed on the contained fluid as experience and prac-l tice` Warrants.

Furthermore, the vapor compressionr in connection with the treatment of certain oils will promote uniformity and certainty in the satisfactory operation of the process, and therefore, the compression in addition to normal atmospheric pressure becomes an important feature in this process.

' Thus, from practical experlence, it has been found'that a pressure maintained over a bc ly' of oil contained in the converter retards the vigorous volatilization of the lighter vapors in a desirable manner, assists in the conversion of oil and renders amore unlform flow of product therefrom.

On the other hand, -a greater pressure I maintained over a body of oil contained within the converter and throughout the system from the source of supply to the end of or beyond the condenser when treating and converting low Baume gravity oil helps materially in this process of conversion.

The composite oil withdrawn from tank 32 may either be directly Ireturned to the converter in order to still further decompose the same into lighter products, or it may be subjected to fractional distillation or other" When treating oils 'of different gravities,

it may be desirable to cause them to flow either upward or downward through the cracking 'chamber 12, and for this purpose intake pipes 16 and 57 are provided.

IVhen fluid is admitted through the lower part of apparatus B, valve 14 in'pipe 57 and valve 25 in pipe 24 is closed.

Valve 15 in -pipe 16 andv valve 55 in pipe 47 is opened thereby allowing the oil to flow through pipe 16 into the lower part of the converter.

By the continuous method of supply and discharge, the unconverted oil which has not been driven off in vapors flows out through pipe 47 into liquid tra) 42', then through` pipe 63 into pipe 17 an down into tank 60. Y'

When, oil is a mitted to the upper part of converter B through pipe 57, valve 15 in pipe 16 and valve 55 in pipe 47 is'closed and valve 25 in pipe 24 is opened.

The head weight and pressure on the oil in the lower part of vapor dome 13 causes the oil to iow down through cracking chamber 12 and out through pipe 34.

It is then forced up through pipe 24 and over into liquid trap 42 and flows out through pipe 63 into pipe 17 `from which it is discharged into tank 60.

For the purpose of determining the proper speed at which the oil should flowthrough converter B, the thermometer 63 is located near the lower external part of vapor dome 13, and to determine the nature of the heavy bottoms in chamber 30 the ther- AIt is apparent that vI have succeeded formulating aprocess Well suited for achieving the several objects and .ends in view, and; that as a result I have made `itpossible `mometer 63 is located on the chamber so .that the registered heat will enable an oil sive commercially available oils into prodance of diii'erent apparatus without, howi ever, departing from the scope of my invention, and accordingly I intend `that all matter contained in the above description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a. limited sense. Inasmuch as the precise degree of temperature at which the walls of the cracking chamber should be maintained in practice, will largely depend upon and be varied with particular conditions, such as the composition of the raw oil to be converted,.

and it will be sulicient to state that the temperature will generally vary from a low red to a full white or incandescent heat, according to the nature of the fluid to be treated.

lt will of course be understood by those skilled in the art that the temperature at which the walls ofthe cracking chamber become incandescent will vary in accordance with the material of -which it is composed and it' will further be understood that the Ltemperature necessary to secure the desired cracking of the oils will vary with the character of the material under treatment. rlhe terms incandescent," a low red, and a full white heat, as aboveused, are therefore not to be considered as terms of limitations upon the use of the'process since it will be understood from the nature and purpose ture' at which the desired cracking will tak ofthe process that the essential point in this'- respect is merelyithat the temperature of the oil in the chamber be raised to the temperaplace.

I desire it to` be understoodgals'o that the language'adopted inthe following claims is intended to cover all of the generlc and specific features of the herein disclosed invention, and all statements of the scope thereof which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween. n,

Havingdescribed my invention, what ll claim as new and desire to'secureby Letters Patent is: j

1. A process of treating high-boiling hydrocarbon oils to convert a relatively large percenta' e ofthe same into lowerboiling i hydrocar onfoils which consists in continuously supplying the high-boiling hydrocarbon -oils to a closed chamber subjecting the highboiling hydrocarbon oils in liquid form Ito a cracking temperature in said closed chamber under pressure to evolve vapors of the desired lower boiling hydrocarbon oilsl and condensing said vapors bypassing them through connections to a condenser, all of l chamber under the connections toand through the condenser being in open communication so as to insure a substantially uniform pressure from the heater to the condenser.

2. A process of converting oil which consists in subjecting the oil to a cracking temperature under supplying oil to said chamber during the cracking'operation to maintain a body of liquidvtherein, and condensing the evolved vapors of the cracked or converted oil` by passing said vapors through'connections to,I

pressure in a closed chamber,

a condenser all of the connections through and to the condenser being in open communication so as to insure a substantially uniform pressure from the heater tothe condense A.

3. A process of treating high-boiling hydrocarbons to obtain a relatively large yield of lower-,boiling hydrocarbons, consisting in'.

continuously admitting the high-boiling hydrocarbons from a supply v to a closed chamber, subjecting a body of 4liquid hydrocar `bons in said chamber t'o a cracking temperaand condensing the ture under pressure,

evolved vapors of the cracked or converted oil by passing said vapors through connections to a condenser all of the connections I through and to5 the condenser being in open communication so as to insure ay substantially uniformrpressure from the chamber through the condenser andA residue and returning it to the'su-pply.

4. The method, of treating hydrocarbons i of.high'boiling point to obtain hydrocarbon oils of lower boiling point which consists in heating the high boiling Vhydrocarbons in liquid form toc a cracking temperature in ua pressure and condensing the cracked vapors produced byv passing the same from the said chamber to a condenser, supplying hydrocarbons of high-boiling point to said cracked vapors at a point between said chamber and said condenser `and maintaining the connection from said chamber to and throughthecondenser in open communication so as to insure substantially uniform pressure from the chamberthrough the condenser, and returning said heavier product drawing oil the non chamber during the cracking n operationto maintain a proper supply there in, separating heavier products from the ric ira

to said chamber whereby the desired low boiling hydrocarbon oil is continuously and ultimately produced.

5. A method of converting oils which con` sists in continuously feeding oil under pressure to a chamber, heating said oil in liquid A form in thechambe'r to a cracking temperature while maintaining a vapor pressureP on said oil in said chamber, condensing the vapors generated, by passing them through connections to a condenser all of the conneci tions to and through the condenserbeing in rac open communication so as to insure a substantially uniform pressure from the cham-` for repetition of the treatment,

v whereby v a lighter condensate is continuously produced as the ultimate product.

6. A' processof converting oil which consists in causing oil to flow from a source of supply in a coni-ined liquid stream restricted in cross section, heating said liquid stream to al cracking temperature, thereby generating vapor pressure, and condensing the cracked -vapors by passing them under substantially the same pressure at all points through a condenser in open communication with said stream of oil, whereby low boilin or converted*y oil is continuously produce and collected as an ultimate product in said condenser. y

7. A process of converting oil which consists in maintaining a body of'oil in a pipelike heater, heating said oil in liquid form in said heater at a cracking temperature, maintaining vapor pressure on said oil while being subjected to the cracking temperature and condensing the vapors generated by passing them under substantially the same pressure at all points through` a condenser, whereby lower boiling or converted oil 1s continuously produced and collected as an ultimate product in said condenser,

8. .Aprocess of converting oil which consists in continuously passing oil 1n a relav tively thin stream under pressure through a pipe-like heater to a larger container or vaor dome in open communication therewith, eating said oil locally as it passes through said plpe-like heater to a cracking temperature, maintaining substantially the same vapor pressure on said oil in said heater and vapor dome and conducting off and'condensin said dome.-

ing the-'vapors of converting oil which con- 9. A process `sists in continuously passing oil in a relatively thin stream under pressure through va pipe-likeheater to a largercontainer or Vapor dome 1n open communication therewith whereby the pressure. will be substantially the same in said heater and dome, heating said oil locally as it passes through said plpe-like heater to a cracking temperature, passing the vapors from said dome through connections to a condenser all of the connections to and through the condenser being in open communication so as to insure a substantially uniform pressure from the. heater through the dome and condenser. j j

10. A process of treating high boiling hydrocarbons to obtain lower boiling point continuously supplying the high boiling point hydro-,carbons to a closed chamber, subjecting der pressure, removin carbon from the heated portion of said ated chamber and passing the vapors evolved through connections to a condenser all in open communication soas to insure a substantially uniform pressure from the heater through the condenser.

11. A process of treating high boiling hydro-carbons to obtain lower boiling point hydro-carbons whiqh consists in continuously supplying the high boiling point hydro-carbons to a closed chamber, subjecting the high boiling hydro-carbons to a cracking temperature in said closed chamber under pressure, allowing the carbon produced by said cracking temperature to descend by gravity out of the heated zone and passing the vapors evolved through connections to a condenser all in open communication so as to insure a substantially uniform pressure from the heater through the condenser.

12. A process of converting oil which con- 'sists in subjecting the oil to a cracking temthe heated portion of said chamber and passing the the vapors evolved through connections to a condenser all in open communication sol as to insure a substantially uniform'pressure from the heater through the condenser.

13. A process of treating high boiling hydro-carbons to obtain lower boiling hydro-carbons which consists in continuously admitting the high-boilinghydrocarbons from a supply to a closed chamber, subjecting the hydro-carbons in said chamber to a cracking temperature under pressure, removing the carbon from the heated portion of said heated chamber, passing the vapors evolved through connections to a condenser, all in open communication so as to insure a substantially uniform pressure from the chamber through the condenser, and drawing off the residue between said chamber arlid condenser and returning it to the sup- P y- A 14. A process of4 treating high boiling hydro-carbons to obtain lower boiling hydrocarbons which consists in continuously admitting the high-boiling hydro-carbons from a supply to a closed chamber, subjecting the hydro-carbons in said chamber to a cracking temperature under pressure, allowing the heavy residue and carbon produced by said cracking temperature to descend by gravity out of the heated zone, passing the vapors evolved through connections to a condenser, all in open communication so as to insure a substantially uniform pressure from thechamber through thecondenser, and drawing olf the residue between said chamber and' condenser and returning it to the supply 15. A process of converting oil which consists in causing oil to flow from a source of supply in a confined liquid stream restricted in cross section, heating said liquid stream to a cracking temperature, thereby generating vapor pressure, separating out the heavy residue and carbon and passing the cracked vapors under substantially the same pressure through a. condenser in open communication with said oil. y

16. A process of converting oil which consists in continuously supplying oil to a. pipelike heater, heating said oil in said heater at a cracking temperature, maintaining vapor pressure on said oil while being subjected to the cracking'temperature, allowing the carbon to descend-by gravity out of the cracking zone, and passing the vapors generated under substantially the same pressure through a condenser. t

17. A process of converting oil which consists in continuously passing oil in a relatively thin stream under pressure through a pipe-like heater to a larger container or vapor dome in open communication therewith, heating said oil locally as it passes through said pipe-like heater to acracking temperature removing from said pipe-like heater and collecting carbon resulting in said pipe-like heater, maintaining substantially the same vapor pressure on said oil in said heater and vapor dome and conducting olf and condensin the vapors in said dome. 18. A process o converting oil which consists in continuously lpassing oil in arelatively thin stream under pressure through a pipe-like heater to a larger container or vapor domein open communication therewith whereby the pressure will be substantially the same in said heater and dome,

heating said oil locally as it passes through said pipe-like heater to acracking temperature, continuously separating out and removing from said pipe-like heater carbon produced in said ipe-like heater, passing ythe vapors from said dome through connections to a condenser all in open communication so as to 'insure a substantially uniform pressure from the heater through the dome and condenser.

19'. A method of 'converting oils which consists in continuously feeding oil under pressure to` a vertically arranged chamber, heating said oil in said chamber above its bottom to a cracking temperature` while maintaining a vapor pressure on said oil in said chamber, allowin the carbon to descend by gravity to the ottom of said chamber beyond the heating zone and continuously passing the vapors generated through connections to a condenser all in open communication. so as to-insure a substantially uniform pressure from the chamber through the condenser.

20. A method of converting oils which consists in continuously feeding oil under pressure to a vertically arranged chamber, heating said oil in said chamber above its bottom to a cracking temperature while maintaining a vapor pressure on said oil in said chamber, allowing the carbon to descend by gravity to the bottom of said chamber beyond the heating zone, permitting the vapors generated to pass from said chamber, separating the. heavier vapors from the lighter converted vapors and passing the lighter vapors through a condenser, the connections through whichsaid vapors pass to and through the condenser being all in open communication so as to insure a substantially uniform pressure from the chamber through the condenser.

21. A method of converting oils which consists'in heating oil in a vertically arranged chamber above its bottom to a cracking temperature while maintaining a vapor pressure on said oil in said chamber, allowing the carbon to descend by gravity to the bottom of said chamber beyond the heating zone, permittingv the vapors generated to pass from said chamber, separating the heavier. vapors fromthe lighter converted vapors and passing the lighter vapors through a condenser, the connections through which said vapors pass to and, through the condenser being all in open communication so as to insure a substantially uniform pressure from the chamber through the condenser.

22. A method of' converting oils which consists in heating oil under pressure in a verticallyarranged chamber above its bottom to a; cracking temperature while maintaining a vapor pressure on said oil in said chamber, allowing the'carbon to descend by gravity to the bottom of said chamber beyond the heating zone and continuously passing the vapors -generated through connections to a condenser all in opencommunication so asv to insure a substantially uniform pressure from the chamber though the condenser.

23. A process of treating high boiling hydro-carbonsl to obtain lower boiling hydrocarbons which consists in subjecting the high boiling hydro-carbons to a cracking temperature in a closed chamber under pressure, allowing the carbon produced by said cracking temperature to descend by gravity out of the heated zone and passing the vapors evolved through connections to a condenser all in open-communication so as to insure a substantially uniformpressure from the heater through the condenser.

24. A process of treating high boiling hydrocarbons to obtain lower boilinghydro-carbons which consists in. supplying the high the condenser, withdrawing lighter conden-.

y mately produced in said chamber.

boiling hydro-carbons to a closed chamber, subjecting the high boiling hydro-carbonsv to a cracking temperature in said closed chamber under pressure of the evolved vapors, moving carbon from the heated portion of said heatedichamber and passing the vapors evolved through connections to a condenser all in open communication so as to insure a substantially uniform pressure from the heater through t-he condenser.

25. A method of converting oil which consists in feeding oil under pressure to a chamber, heating said oil in liquid form in the chamber to a cracking temperature while maintaining a vapor pressure on the oil in said chamber, condensing the vapors generated by passing them through connections to a condenser, all of the connections to and through the condenser being in open communication so as to insure a substantially uniform pressure from the chamber through sate from the condenser and returning heavier condensate to'said chamber for repetition of the treatment, whereby lower boiling condensate or converted oil is ulti- 26. A process of changing high boiling hydrocarbon oils to obtain lower boiling hydrocarbon oils which consists in subjecting j the high boiling hydrocarbons in liquid form in a chamber to a cracking temperature therein, condensing the evolved vapors by permitting them to pass freely to a condenser and maintaining a substantial pressure throughout the cracking chamber and condenser solely by the vapors evolved in the chamber and withdrawing the lower boiling oils from the condenser as the ult-'mate product.

27. A method of converting oils to obtain a relatively large yield of lower boiling oils which consists in heating the `oils tov be coni verted, in liquid form, in a chamber to a\ cracking temperature while maintaining a vapor pressure on said oils in said chamber solely by the vapors generated therein, and condensing said generated vapors by y assing them through connections to a condenser all in open communication so'as to insure a substantially uniform pressure from the chamber. through the condenser and withdrawing the lower boiling oils from the condenser as the ultimate product.

28.' A method of converting oils to obtain a relatively large yield of lowerboiling oils I' which consists in supplying oil to a chamber, supplying heat to a body of oil in liquid uniform self-imposed pressure from thev chamber through the condenser .and with-l drawing the converted oil from the condenser as the ultimate product. f

29. A process of treating high boiling hydrocarbons to obtain a relatively large yield of lowerfboiling hydrocarbons which consists in subjecting a body of the high boiling hydrocarbons in liquid form to a cracking temperature in a closed chamber,

munication with the chamber and while subjected solely -to the pressure of the `evolved and condensingthe vapors evolved by pass# mg them through a condenser 1n free comvapors in excess of atmospheric pressure in the chamber and to and through the condenser and withdrawing the converted, oil from the condenser as the ultimate product.-

30. A process of converting oil which consists in continuously supplying oil to a pipelike heater, heating said oil in saidheater at a cracking temperature, maintaining vapor pressure on ysaid oil while being subjected to the cracking temperature, allowingA the carbon to descend by gravity out of the' cracking zone, and passing the vapors gen.-

erated through a condenser.4

3L A method of converting oils which consists in continuously feeding oil under pressure to aA vertically arranged chamber,

heating said oil in said chamber above its bottom to a cracking temperature While maintaining a vapor pressure on said oil in said chamber, allowin .the carbon to descend by gravity to the ottom of said chamber beyond the ,heating zone and continu# ously passing the vapors generated through connectionsto a condenser., v In'testimonyl whereof r'I affix my signature "in thepresencefof two witnesses. v

y, JOSEPH H. ADAMS. Witnesses-a I kAUSTIN ADAMS,

JOEL Sl. DE SELDKING.

naphtha and gasoline.

1,327,263.-Joseplt H. Brool lyn,^N.`v Y. PROCESS- ron THE CoNvER'sroN forl 4 LIQUIDs, FLU'IDs, AND OILS. /Pate'nt dated January 6, 1920. Disclaimer iiled l March 27 1929, by the lassignee by; mesne assignments, The iTexas Qmprrzy.' Hcreby present thelfollowing disclaimer as to such' claims,l to wit:

1. Your petitioner d'isclaims'from claim 2 all processes except those in Which-the `oil which is subjected to a cracking temperature under pressure'includes large percentages of oil in the boiling range of kerosene whc'h'isy being convertedinto benzin,

2. Your petitioner disclaims vfrom claimriallprocesses'except vthoseix'rvvhich the vheavier condensate returned to the chamberfo'r'repetitio of-the treatment iscomposed i* of oil, a large percentage of which is in theI boiling range of kerosene;

f 3. Your petitioner disclaims fronrclai'm` 6 all processes except those 1n which thef liquid stream restricted in cross-section flows into a larger uniired container wherein y l liquid and vapors separate, a relatively large'liquid body is maintained, andn additional vaporization takes place;

4. Your petitioner disclaims from claim 7 all processes except those wherein the pipe-like heater is maintained'in part, at least, ata temperature as high as a visible' re'd and oil is' caused to owthrough the pipe-like -heater t'o a larger uniired container Where liquids and vapors separate,::a relatively large liquid body is maintained, and

additional vaporizationoccurs. y

5. Your petitioner disclaims fromfelaim 9 all, processes .'eizcept those in which a I' .relatively large body df liquid oil ismaintained inthe larger container or vapor dome;

and someliquidroil is Withdrawn tlie'refrorrit:14 f

6. Your petitioner disclaims from-.claim 15. allprocesses except those wherein the.d

confined lliquid stream restricted inscross-section flows' first 4into a larger' container holding a Arelativelydarge liquid body,'-in- Wl1ich container liquids and. vapors separate and from which the separated cracked vaporsare led oifrto thecondenser.

7. Your petitioner disclaims vfrom vclaim-25 ,all processes except those in which'the heavier. condensate returned tothe ehamber for repetition of the treatmentmis composed of oil, a large percentage of Which-'is in the boiling range of kerosene.

" 8. Your etitoner disclaims -fromclaim 28 all processes except-those in which ,the

Aoil lsupplie tqthe chamber includes large'percentages lof oilthe boiling range of kerosene and 1n which such oils 'arebeing cracked into pils- 1n the-jbolhng range of 

